Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 500
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 500 – PASSAGE – 1
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 500
READING PASSAGE – 1
New Seven Wonders of the World
A. Great Wall of China: The Great Wall of China is a stone-and-earth fortification created to protect the borders of the Chinese Empire from invading Mongols. The Great Wall is actually a succession of multiple walls spanning approximately 4,000 miles, making it the world’s longest manmade structure.
B. Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro): This statue has been looming over the citizen of Rio de Janerio from upon Corcovado Mountain in an awe-inspiring state of eternal blessing since 1931. The 130-foot reinforced concrete-and-soapstone statue was designed by Heitor da Vino Jon Silva Costa and cost approximately $250,000 to build.
C. Machu Picchu (Peru): Machu Picchu, an Incan city of sparkling granite is thought by scholars to have been a sacred archaeological center for the nearby Incan capital of Cusco. Built at the peak of the Incan Empire in the mid-1400s, this mountain citadel was later abandoned by the Incas. The site remained unknown except to locals until 1911, when it was rediscovered by archaeologist Hiram Bingham.
IELTS General Reading Test
D. Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico): The genius and adaptability of Mayan culture can be seen in the splendid ruins of Chichen Itza. This powerful city, a trading center for cloth, slaves, honey and salt, flourished from approximately AD 800 to 1200, and acted as the political and economic hub of the Mayan civilization.
E. The Roman Colosseum (Rome): Rome’s, if not Italy’s, most enduring icon is undoubtedly its Colosseum. Built between A.D. 70 and 80 A.D., the elliptical structure sat nearly 50,000 spectators, who gathered to watch the gladiatorial events as well as other public spectacles, including battle re-enactments, animal hunts and executions. Earthquakes and stone-robbers have left the Colosseum in a state of ruin.
IELTS General Reading Test
F. Taj Mahal (Agra, India): A mausoleum commissioned for the wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 1648. Considered the most perfect specimen of Muslim art in India, the white marble structure actually represents a number of architectural styles, including Persian, Islamic, Turkish and Indian. The Taj Mahal also encompasses formal gardens of raised pathways, sunken flower beds and a linear reflecting pool.
G. Petra (Jordan): Petra was the capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV, and likely existed in its prime from 9 B.C. to A.D. 40. The members of this civilization proved to be early experts in manipulating water technology, constructing intricate tunnels and water chambers. A number of incredible structures carved into stone, a 4,000-seat amphitheater and the El-Deir monastery have also helped the site earn its fame.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 1-7
Look at the descriptions of the Seven Wonders of the World. For which wonders are the following statements true? Write A – G against each statement.
1. It has for long been a symbol of not only the city, but also the country where it is located.
2. For a few hundred years, this city was a great commercial hub.
3. This defensive structure protected a country’s borders.
4. This structure encompasses several different styles of construction.
5. This wonder arouses a sense of reverence and seems to be showering its blessings upon the city.
6. This fortress had been deserted by its inhabitants.
7. The capital of an ancient empire, this site has a number of unbelievable structures.
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer Questions 8 – 14.
The History Of Wimbledon Tennis
It all began with an announcement in the leisure magazine, ‘The Field’, on 9 June 1877 that “The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, proposes to hold a lawn tennis meeting, open to all amateurs, on Monday July 9th and following days”. A total of 22 players stumped up the 1 Pound and 1 Shilling entrance fee, being warned to bring their own rackets and “shoes without heels” but that balls would be provided by the club gardener.
The All England Club had been founded solely for the purpose of croquet in 1869 on four acres of rented meadowland at Worple Road, Wimbledon, but croquet was rapidly overtaken by the new pastime of tennis. Conditions were primitive. A temporary three-plank stand offered seats for 30 people, the total attendance for the final was 200, the rackets resembled snowshoes in shape and weight and the balls had hand-sewn flannel outer casings.
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It wasn’t until 1884 that the All England Club agreed to open the Championships up to both sexes and Lottie Dodd, from Cheshire, made her mark on Wimbledon a few years later as youngest woman to win the title at the age of 15. By the 1900s, the Championships at Wimbledon had become an international affair and in 1905 May Sutton from the United States became the first overseas champion when she won the Ladies’ Singles title. In 1908, Wimbledon hosted the Olympic tennis tournament at its Worple Road base and in 1922 the Championships moved to its current home on Church Road.
The Championships at Wimbledon have long attracted a royal following and have even seen a royal take to the court. In 1926 the Duke of York, who later became King George VI, competed in the men’s doubles. His match formed part of the Jubilee Championships where King George V and Queen Mary presented the commemorative medals. Unfortunately he and his partner lost in straight sets.
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Long-standing British favourite Fred Perry grabbed the nation’s attention when he won the Championships in three consecutive years from 1936, and until Andy Murray’s victory in 2013 he was the last British man to win Wimbledon.
In 1937 live sports coverage was added to the bill and the Wimbledon Championships were broadcast to those within a 40-mile radius of the BBC transmitters in north London.
Today Wimbledon demands huge viewing figures and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors – many of them queuing for days to secure one of the much-coveted Centre Court tickets. Matches take place across several Courts, which include the Centre Court, plus courts 1-19 there is no court 13, which is deemed unlucky.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 8-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes on your answer sheet, write
TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this
8. Worple Road is the current home of Wimbledon Tennis.
9. A total of twenty-two men and women participated in the first tournament in 1877.
10. May Sutton from the USA was the first Women’s Champion at Wimbledon.
11. The Olympic Tennis Tournament has been hosted at Wimbledon.
12. The Duke of York lost his match without winning a set.
13. Andy Murray was the last British national to win the Wimbledon Championship.
14. There are 20 courts in all at Wimbledon.
IELTS General Reading Test
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. E
2. D
3. A
4. F
5. B
6. C
7. G
8. FALSE
9. FALSE
10. FALSE
11. TRUE
12. TRUE
13. NOT GIVEN
14. FALSE
IELTS General Reading Test